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    Late, Late at Night
    Late, Late at Night
    Late, Late at Night
    Audiobook12 hours

    Late, Late at Night

    Written by Rick Springfield

    Narrated by Rick Springfield

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    New York Times bestseller! Grammy Award-winning icon Rick Springfield shares the startling story of his rise and fall and rise again in music, film, and television and his lifelong battle with depression.

    In a searingly candid memoir which he authored himself, Grammy Award–winning pop icon Rick Springfield pulls back the curtain on his image as a bright, shiny, happy performer to share the startling story of his rise and fall and rise in music, film, and television and his lifelong battle with depression.

    In the 1980s, singer-songwriter and actor Rick Springfield seemed to have it all: a megahit single in “Jessie’s Girl,” sold-out concert tours, follow-up hits that sold more than seventeen million albums and became the pop soundtrack for an entire generation, and twelve million daily viewers who avidly tuned in to General Hospital to swoon over his portrayal of the handsome Dr. Noah Drake. Yet lurking behind his success as a pop star and soap opera heartthrob and his unstoppable drive was a moody, somber, and dark soul, one filled with depression and insecurity.

    In Late, Late at Night, the memoir his millions of fans have been waiting for, Rick takes readers inside the highs and lows of his extraordinary life. By turns winningly funny and heartbreakingly sad, every page resonates with Rick’s witty, wry, self-deprecating, brutally honest voice. On one level, he reveals the inside story of his ride to the top of the entertainment world. On a second, deeper level, he recounts with unsparing candor the forces that have driven his life, including his longtime battle with depression and thoughts of suicide, the shattering death of his father, and his decision to drop out at the absolute peak of fame. Having finally found a more stable equilibrium, Rick’s story is ultimately a positive one, deeply informed by his passion for creative expression through his music, a deep love of his wife of twenty-six years and their two sons, and his life-long quest for spiritual peace.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateOct 12, 2010
    ISBN9781442337527
    Author

    Rick Springfield

    Rick Springfield is a Grammy Award–winning musician and actor, and the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Late, Late Night, which Rolling Stone named one of the twenty-five greatest rock memoirs off all time. He lives in Malibu with his wife, Barbara. Visit him online at RickSpringfield.com or MagnificentVibration.com.

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    Reviews for Late, Late at Night

    4/5

    87 ratings15 reviews

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    • 5/5
      An excellent telling of the life of those who create true art....when it's good it's great..when it's bad it's akin to a tomb....
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. I listened to it and it was beautifully read. He is open and heartfelt. I loved this book.
    • 5/5
      I would give it 4.5 stars if that was an option because I could have done without so much explicit sexual transgressions, but I appreciate his vulnerability. I thought he was a good story teller and he even captured my parts with me in the car.
    • 4/5
      Fascinating biography of a pop star. One more story of how being a media star both is and is not what one might want it to be. Good to read if you were infatuated with him when you were a teenager. He's completely candid about his bouts with depression and sex addiction. And he reates dogs as being some of the best personalities on the planet.
    • 5/5
      Became aware of this from an interview on Youtube and could see how visibly Rick was shaken when this book was brought up. As someone that has felt with my own Mr. D, though the year's I can relate to that pain on a personal level and that when will I have suffered enough that Mr. D gets bored and moves on to another more challenging soul. So far no luck... But, his love of dogs also reaches me, and maybe they are the arch nemesis to Mr. D, realizing they are one of the greatest joys life and The Big Guys has given us... Will probably never cross but paths but will always remember this book every time I pick up my six string therapist...
    • 3/5
      I read this book as part of a literary dare of sorts. At a recent party I met a 20-something guy who revealed to me that he had been in rehab for six months during the pandemic. I told him that everyone I know who had been in rehab (regardless of what sort of addiction) had read The Heroin Diaries, and told me that everyone in rehab loved that book. He admitted that he had read a dog-eared copy he found in the tv room at the rehab. that he loved it, and that all of his rehab freinds had also read and loved it. Then he went on to say that he loved a lot of other rock star bios as well, even those by artists whose work he did not like or was unfamiliar with. And so we threw down, challenging the other to read a bio by a rock star they did not like or did not really know much about. He named three books he assumed would work for me by that measure. This book (I have NEVER been a Rick Springfield fan, and until I read this was not aware he recorded any song other than Jesse's Girl), Jewel's memoir (again, a solid choice), and the Autobiography of Gucci Mane (which was a bad choice because I already read it and LOVED it.) I chose this one and am happy I did so. (He is reading Keith Richards' Life at my behest, and he reports he is loving it -- I still marvel that I know people so young they really know nothing about the Rolling Stones.)I guess it won't surprise anyone that our erstwhile heartthrob is not deep. It is also not surprising that this lack of depth is blasted into sharp relief when he is trying to show how deep he is. One moment he is bemoaning the toxic masculinity rampant in Australia, and the next moment there is elegiac tribute to the toned women and the men who live to drink and fight. One moment he is going on about how he is a good man fighting a sex addiction, the next moment he is going on about how his wife is everything to him and we should not judge her for staying with him when he has shagged hundreds (thousands?) of women while they have been together, though he knows it destroys her. (I am judging her tbh, but not 1/10th as harshly as I am judging him.) The moment after than he is writing tortured songs about the women he is shagging that his wife will have to hear. (Or maybe she won't? I mean does anyone listen to Rick Springfield other than Jesse's Girl?) And speaking of songs, I felt bad because Rick talks about how he works through his intense feelings through music and how listening to some of his songs is really hard for him as a result (not because they are so bad but because they really get to his heart.) Then he provided some of the lyrics. I laughed and laughed. Hallmark would fire him for being too simultaneously goopy and superficial. I only read the words, the tunes might be delightful, but holy hell those are some godawful lyrics. All of them! An example for you:Oh my God!It's my lifeWhat am I doing kicking at the foundation?That's rightMy lifeBetter start looking at my destination.I told you it was bad. And that really is one of the better lyrics quoted in the book.Despite all this, I generally enjoyed reading this. Rick has a clear voice that I liked. No one is going to accuse him of sounding too much like an MFA. The man that wrote those lyrics above wrote this, and you can tell. Still, I liked it. The book also has some organizational issues. He repeats himself several times in later chapters, apparently forgetting he already told us some of those things. And Rick is a navel gazer. He is a self-help loving, Eastern religion appropriating, one-with-nature type of fool. And with all that he is perhaps the least self-actualized person whose memoir I have read. He says low-key offensive things about Asian, Black and LGBTQ+ people, and it is obvious he doesn't see it. He talks about busting out of his whore Madonna mindset, and then every woman in the book is a whore or a Madonna (or someone about whom he thinks nothing other than whether or not she is gay or straight -- bi appears not to be an option.) His wife is constantly referred to as his princess, as being perfect. There is never any indication he sees her as a dimensional human being. It is no wonder he cheats -- he has far less respect for her as a sentient being than he has for his dogs (whom he really loves and brings to life on the page.)I don't mean to castigate Rick. He is who he is. He talks openly about his struggles with depression and sex addiction which is a good thing. He celebrates the noble things he does a little too much so it is clear then do not come from real generosity, but he thinks about trying to do the right thing (he doesn't really do the right thing very much, but he thinks about it.) In the end, this was generally fun and worth the read. Also, I owned it from some long ago library bag day sale, so I got one more book off the shelf winging its way to the donation bin. So it is a win! I alternated audio (read by Mr. Springfield), and hardback here, and both are worthwhile. It is hard to recommend one over the other, but i did like the pictures in the text version.
    • 4/5
      Somewhere or other I ran across a mention of a memoir written by Rick Springfield of his life's adventures. It mentioned his struggle with depression and the ups and downs of an emerging rock star of his times. Sounded interesting so I checked it out.I had really not known much about him other than name recognition and his biggest hit, "Jessie's Girl" which was deserving as a big hit. Not so familiar with his General Hospital gig, as I am not a babe.(joke alert) The book for he most part I found fascinating. If he truly wrote it himself without a ghost writer, impressive writing skills.The one thing you can say about this guy is he lived a pretty full life with some amazing twists and turns. From his hardscrabble early days in Australia, to a rock tour of Vietnam in the day (wow), to his emergence in the US as I would say a minor to semi-major star. I had to chuckle at him being miffed by people confusing his name and being overshadowed by Bruce Springsteen. "Oh, yeah I have heard of him."From the personal side we get a fair insight into his depression that plagues him to this day which he refers to as Mr.D that is constantly lurking ready to strike. Yet he does not go into what he is actually feeling that drives it. The second major issue he deals with is his clear sex addiction. Let's see, a good looking rock dude and TV soap star and he has to deal with all of these women strewn in his path. How challenging. Yet he makes the most of it despite his wife on the otherside of it. Then he fesses on his guilt and relapses yet again and again. A true sign of the addict. I made me think less of him and of course as any guy, envious. And his wife sticks with him which really makes her something special and lucky for him.And on the flipside he also shares with us his caring for a very young fan and her heartbreaking story. A classy tribute to someone who touched many lives and fortunate for him, his. His other consuming passion are the dogs in his life. No, real dogs. This guy truly loves his dogs which were always there for him non-judgmental, unconditional. Lethal Ron and Gomer probably saved his life when it comes down to it and were so much a part of his love of life. He hopes to be joined with or reincarnated as one it seems.Overall I could not help liking him for his straight to the heart triumphs and defeats which he relays in an honest and human relatability. If that makes any sense. Rick made the big time and it wasn't easy. I think he discovers also, all that glitters, sometimes doesn't. A good story and hopefully a good ending.
    • 3/5
      I'm not quite sure what I expected from this book, but it was far from what I expected. I guess I remember more the "squeaky clean" image (and I'm sure if my mom had known what his life was really like, she'd have discouraged me from listening to his music).

      I have to give him credit for his honesty in talking about the demons of depression and sexual addiction which have plagued him over the years.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book. It is funny, poignant and honest. I saw Rick in concert and he is much the same in his book. He takes an honest look at himself and life. I didn't know he was such a huge dog lover, but I felt after reading this that I had really gotten a look into the person behind the fame. I highly recommend it.
    • 4/5
      I liked Rick Springfield when I was a kid but haven't tried to keep up with him for many years. So I picked this book up mostly out of curiosity. I'll admit that there are parts of the book I was pretty bored with, mostly his sexual escapades. However, there is a great deal of this book that is compelling and made me continue to read.

      This book pretty much generates all of the emotions: happy, sad, confused, uncomfortable, silly and depressed. Rick's life has been a roller coaster of very high highs and very low lows. His highs mostly come from his love of music and interacting with his fans. His lows come from his "darkness" of depression. How he works through things to a somewhat even keel is fascinating.

      An interesting read and a peek into the life of someone who seems to have it all, but does he? Really:
    • 3/5
      Autobiography of 80's pop and soap opera star Rick Springfield. Interesting read.
    • 4/5
      Anyone who knows me well knows that I love Rick Springfield. My first real music idol, I've seen him in concert numerous times. I was excited when I heard he was publishing a memoir, but then I wasn't so sure, thinking it would fall into the just-another-musician's-memoir-trying-to-make-a-little-extra-money genre, figuring that people like me would gobble it up, but that it wouldn't really make much of an impact on the reading world. But then it got good reviews. So then I was once again excited & anxious to get my hands on a copy. I listened to the audio version, which is read by Rick himself. It's brutally honest -- or at least appears to be so. I was a little hesitant to start reading...I was worried that all my starstruck respect for this guy would be shattered if I read about some of the not-so-respectful stuff. But I dove in anyway. And in that respect, Rick does not disappoint. He airs all his dirty laundry -- focusing primarily on his two big demons: his battle with depression & his obsession with sex & inability to be faithful to his wife. He personifies his depression, giving it an Australian accent & calling it "Mr. D." At times you feel sorry for the guy, but at other times you think he's just brought it all on himself. But it's candid.If the F-bomb is not your cup of tea, this wouldn't be a good read for you. He drops it very frequently. Unnecessarily so, in my opinion, but I can deal with it. I wouldn't classify this as the best memoir I've read, but it's good. Rick has a lot of talents, ranging from song-writing, singing, guitar-playing, acting, and now writing. This was an enjoyable book because the reader can follow along with his lifelong journey toward fame, through fame, and the after-effects of fame. I learned a lot about my idol that, as a fan, I always wanted to know, but never did: what it was like growing up as a boy in Australia, the frequent moving his family did when he was young, why he idolized his dad & wrote tributes to him in several songs, where his love of guitar-playing & music originated, how he began to emerge in the music scene, how he made the move to America, & how he began to hit it big in acting & music. And then there were the more personal landmarks: the death of his dad, how he met his wife, the birth of his two sons, the infidelity, the recurring depression, his quest for spiritual belonging, & his love of dogs. I was sad to see this book come to an end, primarily because while reading, it felt like I was sitting down & talking with Rick throughout the whole thing. My vision of "Rick Springfield sainthood" may have dropped down a few notches, but I feel like I really do know the guy now. If only I could meet him in person. :')
    • 5/5
      This is a great book whether you are a Rick Springfield fan or not. He has told his story from a no holds barred perspective from his sexual infidelity to dealing with his depression from an early age. As a girl who grew up in the 80's when he hit the height of his fame there was a great story to be told about his life down under growing up without any real sense of belonging which just fueled the depression to his fall when the depression really started to take hold of his life and career. This book covers it all and how he managed his depression to make his come back to acting as well as music. I recommend this book to anyone who is a Rick Springfield fan and even to those who are not. It is well written - there are parts of laughter as well as parts with tears as he shows himself to be more than just a teen idol of the 80's but an actual person who struggled with internal demons.
    • 5/5
      Ok, before I get into this review -- lets talk about Rick Springfield. Now a lot of this will date me, but most of you already know I'm a 40 year old women, so this shouldn't be a surprise. I've always liked Rick Springfield, I never had a crush on him mind you, at the time he was a little too pretty for my tastes (Back than my loves were Tom Selleck, Parker Stevenson, Joe Elliot of Def Leppard & Tom Wopat), but he looked like a decent fellow and I really enjoyed his music. Any of you who have ever lost your Dad will know of hishauntingly beautiful and honest "My Father's Chair". I find that I cannot listen to the song without thinking of my beautiful Dad and how emptier the world is without him (& how sad that my boys will never get to meet him) I also loved his song Like Father, Like Son and used to play it over and over. And well I think we all love Jessie's Girl (NO I did not name my boy after the song - Jesse is the name of my maternal Grandma - Jesse Porter) even you youngster's. Over the 80's and 90's I liked some of his songs and enjoyed watching him in various TV shows, But it wasn't until I caught him in Californication that I really became interested in him. Anyone who can poke fun at himself liked he did on Californication, has to be alright (and wow he's got a nice little bod on him). A few months after that I heard he had written a memoir so I begged my Simon and Schuster contact to get me a copy to review. Well, I am glad I did as you will see in the reviewOne last thing, I hope I have the chance to tell him how important and decent it is to write of his struggle with depression. This can really help those who are suffering and thinking of ending it all realize that they are not alone and that things will get better. It's nice to see a celebrity speak so openly and honestly and non-judgmentally about depression, it really makes up for schmucks like Tom Cruise. Hmm, maybe I will ask Rick that if he ever meets up with Tom Cruise to give him a smack upside the head from this Canadian girl who suffered from Post Postpartum Depression and didn't have time to exercise because she was too busy taking care of her special needs child. Screw you Tom!! Ooops, sorry about the rant, every time I hear that boys name I get fired upLate, Late at Night: a Memoirby Rick SpringfieldTouchstone Book (Simon and Schuster)ISBN: 978-1-4391-9115-6Description: In a searingly candid memoir which he authored himself, Grammy Award-winning pop icon Rick Springfield pulls back the curtain on his image as a bright, shiny, happy performer to share the startling story of his rise and fall and rise in music, film, and television and his lifelong battle with depression.In the 1980s, singer-songwriter and actor Rick Springfield seemed to have it all: a megahit single in “Jessie's Girl,” sold-out concert tours, follow-up hits that sold more than 17 million albums and became the pop soundtrack for an entire generation, and 12 million daily viewers who avidly tuned in to General Hospital to swoon over his portrayal of the handsome Dr. Noah Drake. Yet lurking behind his success as a pop star and soap opera heartthrob and his unstoppable drive was a moody, somber, and dark soul, one filled with depression and insecurity. In Late, Late at Night, the memoir his millions of fans have been waiting for, Rick takes readers inside the highs and lows of his extraordinary life. By turns winningly funny and heartbreakingly sad, every page resonates with Rick's witty, wry, self-deprecating, brutally honest voice. On one level, he reveals the inside story of his ride to the top of the entertainment world. On a second, deeper level, he recounts with unsparing candor the forces that have driven his life, including his longtime battle with depression and thoughts of suicide, the shattering death of his father, and his decision to drop out at the absolute peak of fame. Having finally found a more stable equilibrium, Rick's story is ultimately a positive one, deeply informed by his passion for creative expression through his music, a deep love of his wife of twenty-six years and their two sons, and his life-long quest for spiritual peace.The Good Stuff Beautifully honest and raw The book leaves you feeling very hopeful and you really, really, want to give him a hug As mentioned above what he is doing is a good thing by revealing his struggle with depression Delighted to see that he has nerd qualities -- I love a man who has Star Wars toys! Extremely witty and self deprecating Made me cry, many, many times The love for his Mom and Dad is written so beautifully and with no accusations, just observations He Loves Dogs - really that is enough for me. He writes so wonderfully about his love for his many canine companions He really doesn't sugar coat his mistakes Loved the 1st chapter, really grabbed my interest and loved to hear about his travel adventures on the way to England The part about his suicide attempt is heartbreaking -- the first, and not last time I cried while reading The chapter on Sahara is beautiful and so very sad at the same time -- again there were tears and really must learn not to read sad stuff on the TTC, I was crying and people were staring like I was some kind of freak -- normal people cry assclowns!!! Also Chapter where the dog dies is brutal but beautiful -- and yes -- more crying GO BUY THE BOOK!!!! The Not so Good StuffWould have liked more pictures (The picture of him with his son Liam is beautiful!!) At times I was a little ticked off at him for some of his choices and the hurt being done to his two boys by those choices. I would be very interested in how they feel about this memoir The first chapter may be a little difficult for those who like things in a more linear way. In my case, I liked it because it reminded me of how I tell stories sometimes. It really endeared him to me, but I am putting it in here, because it might be a struggle for some. Do not let it stop you from reading the book!! Damn you Rick, I stayed up late, late, late at night reading the book because it was so damn good. Don't be making any comments about the bags under my eye's when I get my picture taken with you!Favorite Quotes/Passages (There are tons of good ones, but I'm not giving you any more than this)"The idea of that little kid hopping around a tiny Aussie country town on a pogo stick versus the guy I see in the mirror today is one of the biggest mind-fucks of my life.""Maybe it will help prevent wars over the color of the flag, but I doubt it. And nothing will ever stop us all fighting over the true name of God.""And I am finally made aware of the "myth of fame". It may seem like an obvious revelation, bu honestly, unless you've gone through it, you can't imagine what kind of mind-fuck it really is to truly understand that, in and of itself, fame is not ultimately transformative."What I LearnedI sooo don't want to be a celebrity -- no no never mind - always knew that A lot about depression and addictions and a better understanding of them About the background of certain songs That his wife is a saint, because HONESTLY, I don't think I would have put up with the infidelities (Yup, I totally made a distant judgment call -- sorry Rick) I really like the word mind-fuck That I Really would like to sit down with him and talk about things. Who should/shouldn't readAnyone who has suffered or is still suffering from Depression or thoughts of suicide Anyone interested in Rick Springfield OBVIOUSLY Not for the prudish or judgmental -- and if you are one of those types of people, probably not best to keep following this blog. 5 Dewey'sOK. Now I'm off to meet with my buddy Tosca who I haven't seen in over 15 years and than it's off to the signing at Indigo. I've got my IPOD charged with some Ring Spring field tunes, 2 copies of the book (1 for MY Jesse and 1 to raise money for the Spina Bifida Association walk next year) and my push up bra (Hey, ever since Californication I find him a lot hotter than he was back in the 80's)Hopefully I don't come across as a total nerd when I see him and hopefully sound more articulate than the time that I met Paul Gross.
    • 5/5
      Best autobiography I've read in ages. Let me start by saying I was never a Springfield fan. Yes, I liked some of his 80's music, but I never watched General Hospital and I've never owned an album of his. However, I picked up the book, started to read it and became engrossed. In many ways, his story is to be expected: young, insecure Australian, shuffled from place to place as his dad was an army man, in love with poetry and music with a big dream. Comes to America and finally hits it big with Jessie's Girl and GH at the same time. Gains a fortune, loses a fortune, and has to regain a fortune again. Falls in love amidst endless one night stands, gets married and has a couple of kids. So what makes this story different than so many others: first off, his openness and candor are refreshing. His misuse of women on the road as sexual objects, his chronic low level and occasional high level depression, and most importantly, his never-ending spiritual quest for God and growth, his blossoming awareness of his issues and his on-going love for a woman who has tolerated a helluva lot of shit from him. An excellent read. Oh yea, this guy really, really, really loves dogs and relates to them better than he does people. All in all, you empathize with Springfield and want to see him be happy in himself.